Heater apparatus

ABSTRACT

A portable heater includes a housing having an access door providing for receiving a fuel tank within the housing. The access door provides for insertion and removal of the fuel tank through the door. A burner within the housing is connected to the fuel tank and emits a flame above the housing. A vertical transparent tube extends above the burner and encompasses the flame along an entire height of the tube. A protective grill surrounds the tube and extends at least as far as the top of the protective grill. An upper cover assembly mounts to the top of the protective grill. The flame is enclosed extending up the tube along the entire height of the tube and creates a glowing vertical element from the housing to the cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a heater apparatus and in particular to a heater apparatus having a vertical tube containing a flame exposed along its length and extending from a bottom base to a top cover.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Outdoor patio type heaters have become commonplace and are widely used for providing radiant heat. Such heaters typically use a gas for fuel such as propane. Well known configurations for outdoor heaters typically include a burner connected to a portable refillable fuel tank at a bottom portion of the heater. The burner emits a flame that is deflected downward by a top cover on the heater. Heat is therefore deflected and radiated outward from the heater. Such heaters have an advantageous configuration as the flame is raised upward above users' normal seated position so that the heaters may be particularly well suited for placement for outdoor dining or where persons may be standing, as the flame is raised upward and heat is radiated from a more advantageous position that provides heating at a level of the intended users and is less likely to cause injuries such as from accidental burns.

An improvement to such heaters provides a tube extending vertically above the burner to encompass a portion of the flame. Moreover, some heaters include guards that extend upward about the tube to keep hands and other body parts from touching the tube, which may become quite hot. Moreover, the guards provide a degree of protection against breaking the tube.

Such heaters still have some drawbacks as the flame may often flare above the top of the tube and deflects outward to create a potential safety hazard with the flame exposed. The exposed flame is therefore at a greater risk of being blown out in windy locations. In addition, the guards have exposed edges that may provide a safety hazard and may not provide desired strength and support. Moreover, such heaters have a housing that requires removal of a panel to access the fuel tank so that changing the fuel tank is a time consuming task.

It can be seen that a new and improved portable outdoor heater is needed that provides a safe, reliable and convenient heat source while providing a visually distinctive glow. Moreover, such a heater should provide safeguards around the glowing tube portion without risk of injury from sharp edges and providing greater structural integrity. Such a device should also provide easy access for safely and quickly changing fuel tanks. The present invention addresses these as well as other problems associated with portable outdoor gas heaters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a heater apparatus and in particular to an outdoor gas type heater. The heater includes a triangular frame forming a lower housing. The housing includes a burner and a fuel tank with an access door providing access for changing the fuel tank and for actuating the burner controls. The frame is generally configured as a triangular frame with upright members extending at each of three corners of the triangular profile formed by the frame. The upright members generally include an outer rectangular support portion providing rigidity and structural integrity to the frame. A transparent tube extends upward from the housing above the burner and extends to a top cover. Protective grates attach to the upright members and provide protection around the transparent tube. The tube extends the length of the frame to above the top of the protective grate members and provides a visually glowing appearance along its entire length between the cover and the lower housing when the flame is lit. The tube also provides for more reliably maintaining a lit flame and improving safety at the top cover.

In operation, the heater is started by opening the access door on the lower housing to gain access to the controls. The gas valve is turned on by opening up a control valve with an actuating knob to set the gas flow at desired rate. The igniter is then activated to light the burner. The flame from the burner shoots upward on the interior of the transparent tube. When the flame has been lit, the gas flow is set by the control knob so that the flame extends upward along the entire length of the exposed portion of the transparent tube. This provides an aesthetically pleasing glowing effect along the entire vertical length of the tube and provides for radiating heat outward from the tube. It can also be appreciated that in some embodiments, a remote control may be utilized to actuate the burner controls and igniter. The heater is turned off by simply stopping the flow of gas to the burner with the control knob. If the tank should become empty, the fitting is simply loosened from the line leading to the gas tank and the tank is then removed through the access door. A full tank is then inserted into the housing and the fitting is reattached. Valves on the tank itself are opened so that gas can flow to the controls and ultimately to the burner.

These features of novelty and various other advantages that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings that form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference letters and numerals indicate corresponding structure throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a portable heater according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view of the portable heater shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a heater according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a second perspective view of the heater shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a grill for the heater shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the burner assembly and burner plate assembly for the heater shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the burner assembly shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the burner assembly shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a detail view of the flame tube for the heater shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of spark arrester assembly and deflector plate for the for the portable heater of FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the spark arrester assembly shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a floor mounting bracket for the portable heater of FIG. 3;

FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view of a heater shown in FIG. 3 with a wheel assembly; and

FIG. 14 is an exploded view of a wheel assembly shown in FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a first embodiment of a portable outdoor heater apparatus, generally designated 10. The heater 10 includes a burner assembly, generally designated 12, as shown in FIG. 2. The burner assembly 12 provides a flame that extends upward and radiates through an emitting assembly 14. A top cover 18 extends above the emitting assembly 14. A lower housing 42 retains the burner assembly 12 and a refillable and interchangeable fuel tank 60, such as a conventional propane tank. Frame upright portions 24 extend at the three corners to support the cover 18 and protective grills 26. The frame members 24 form a frame having substantially triangular profile with an upright member 24 at each of the three corners of the triangle. Each of the frame upright members 24 includes a square corner support portion 28 providing additional rigidity and structural integrity.

The frame members 24 extend from the top of the lower housing 42. The housing 42 includes panels 44 on two sides of the housing 42 and an access door 46 on the third side. The access door 46 includes a handle 48 and hinges 50 and opens to allow access to the burner assembly 12 and the fuel tank 60. In a preferred embodiment, the door 46 extends substantially between the corners of the triangular lower housing 42.

A second embodiment of a portable outdoor heater apparatus is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 generally designated 110. The heater 110 includes a burner assembly, generally designated 112, as shown in FIG. 6-8. The burner assembly 112 provides a flame that extends upward and radiates through an emitting assembly 114. A top deflector or cover 118 extends above the emitting assembly 114. A lower housing 142 retains the burner assembly 112 and a refillable and interchangeable fuel tank 60, such as a conventional propane tank. Frame upright portions 124 extend at the three corners to support the top cover 118 and protective grills 126. The frame members 124 form a frame having substantially triangular profile with an upright member 124 at each of the three corners of the triangle

The frame members 124 extend from the top of the lower housing 142. The housing 142 includes panels 144 on two sides of the housing 142 and an access door which is removed for clarity in FIGS. 3 and 4 on the third side. In a preferred embodiment, the opening for the door extends substantially between the corners of the triangular lower housing 142.

As shown in FIG. 5, three grates or grills 126 provide for ventilation around a central glass cylinder 130. Each of the grills 126 has cross members 132 and an outer frame 134A and inner frame 134B. The lightweight protective structure provides an aesthetically pleasing and safety guard that allows sufficient light and heat out while preventing accidentally touching the cylinder 130 or having flammable materials contact the cylinder 130.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-8, the burner box assembly 112 includes a control valve 140. The burner assembly 12 also includes a burner 162, a tilt switch 164 and a gas line fitting 166 including a spud orifice. A pilot light type igniter 168 provides for lighting the burner 162 for the heater 110 and includes ground wire 170 and hot wire 172. The tilt switch 164 automatically cuts off the gas supply should the heater 110 tip. A control knob controls the gas flow for ignition and the size of the flame. The fuel tank 60 is positioned completely within the housing 142 and rests on a support base 152. The fuel tank 60 is easily connected and disconnected from the fitting 166 so that the tank 60 may be easily replaced when empty. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in some embodiments the adjustment knob 136 may be replaced with remote control 58, which may also actuate the igniter 168. The access door 46 is sufficiently large so that the fuel tank may be easily inserted and removed through the door and all controls are easily reached and viewed.

As shown in FIG. 6 a burner plate assembly 180 fits over the burner assembly 112. The burner plate assembly includes a triangular plate 182 with a center ring 184 defining a center opening. The plate 182 mounts on helical springs 186 to build in a degree of resiliency in the mounting arrangement for the cylinder 130.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the heater 10 provides an improved light and heat emitting assembly 14. A tube or cylinder 30 is made of glass or other transparent material that allows light from the flame to be seen through the tube 30. The transparent tube 30 extends from an opening above the burner assembly 12 up through the tube 30 to a position extending above the top of the protective grates 26. The transparent tube 30 extends to a collar extending down from the cover 18. In this manner, the top of the flame extends directly into a volume defined by the cover 18 and protected from the wind and other weather elements. Such a configuration provides for improved reliability of the heater 10 as the likelihood that the flame may be accidentally extinguished decreases.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 9, it can be appreciated that the transparent tube 30 extending the full length from the burner assembly 12 to the cover 18 provides for improved visual impression and better aesthetics as the entire tube 30 is given a glowing appearance along its entire vertical length from the lower housing 42 to the cover. The improved appearance provides for a light source that is aesthetically pleasing. Moreover, its configuration provides for a pleasing overall appearance of the heater 10.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, in some embodiments a spark arrester 200 may be utilized. The spark arrester includes a deflector 202, a bottom plate 204, a cylindrical grate 206 and a top plate 208. The grate 206 is formed from cylindrical mesh material. The top plate 208 forms a central opening and attaches to an inner ring 210, an outer ring 212 and fiberglass wick 214.

As shown in FIG. 12, the heater 110 includes a bottom mounting bracket 220 for mounting the heater to the ground. The bracket 220 includes three legs 222 with end offset portions 224 and mounting orifices 226 as well as a center orifice 228. The orifices 226 and 228 are configured for receiving conventional bolts or other connectors for securely mounting to a floor or other surface. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the heater may also have a wheel assembly 52 with wheels 54, an axle 56 and a bracket 58.

To operate the heater 10, the access door 46 is opened so that the control unit controls 40 are easily accessed and operated. To light the flame, the gas supply is turned on by the control knob 36. When proper gas flow has been obtained, the igniter 68 is activated until the flame is lit. The flame extends upward from the burner 12 inside the transparent tube 30. The flame is adjusted until it extends only along the entire length of the vertical tube 30 and provides an anesthetically pleasing glow along the entire length of the tube 30. In a preferred operating mode, the flame extends only to fill the transparent tube 30 rather than upward to impinge the cover 18 and flare outward with the flame exposed. This provides greater safety while proper control of the flame improves safety and increases the likelihood that a lit flame is maintained. To turn off the heater 10, the gas flow is simply stopped by actuating the control knob 36. When the flame is out of fuel and the gas flow stops, the heater 10 simply goes out.

When the fuel tank 60 is empty, changing is easily accomplished with the present heater 10. The access door 46 is opened and the gas line for the tank 60 is disconnected from the fitting 66. The empty tank 60 is simply pulled out through the large access door 46 and a full tank 60 is replaced and set in the housing 42 on the base 52. The fitting 66 is then reconnected and a valve on the fuel tank 60 is opened. The heater 10 is then again ready for operation.

It can be appreciated that in some embodiments, a remote control 58 may be utilized for actuating the burner 12 and igniter 68 and for shutting off the burner 12 and the flame. Moreover, it can be appreciated that the heater 10 may include anchors for permanently fixing the frame members 24 to the ground. Wheels 54 may be optionally affixed to the housing 42 to provide for transporting the heater 10 when not in use.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appending claims are expressed. 

1. A heater apparatus, comprising: a housing; a burner within the housing and emitting a flame; a vertical tube above the burner and having the flame extend therein the length of the tube; a protective grill surrounding the tube; wherein the tube extends at least as far as the top of the protective grill.
 2. A heater apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an upper cover assembly mounted to the top of the protective grill.
 3. A heater apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cover assembly comprises an angled cover.
 4. A heater apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an access door providing access to the burner.
 5. A heater apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fuel tank within the housing connected to the burner.
 6. A heater apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the housing comprises an access door and wherein the access door provides for insertion and removal of the fuel tank.
 7. A heater apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protective grill comprises elements having rectangular elements at an outermost portion.
 8. A heater apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tube extends into a lower portion of the cover assembly
 9. A heater apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the burner creates a flame and wherein the flame extends up the tube along an entire height of the tube.
 10. A heater apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tube comprises an at least partially transparent material and where in the flame extends up the tube along the entire height of the tube and creates a glowing vertical element from the housing to the cover.
 11. A heater according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a three sided housing.
 12. A heater according to claim 1, wherein the protective grill comprises three sides.
 13. A heater according to claim 1, wherein the burner comprises a gas burner.
 14. A heater according to claim 1, further comprising wheels for moving the heater.
 15. A heater apparatus, comprising: a housing having an access door; a fuel tank within the housing, wherein the access door provides for insertion and removal of the fuel tank; a burner within the housing connected to the fuel tank and emitting a flame above the housing; a vertical tube above the burner and having the flame extending therein along an entire height of the tube; a protective grill surrounding the tube; wherein the tube extends at least as far as the top of the protective grill; an upper cover assembly mounted to the top of the protective grill; wherein the tube comprises an at least partially transparent material and wherein the flame extends up the tube along the entire height of the tube and creates a glowing vertical element from the housing to the cover.
 16. A method for lighting a portable outdoor heater apparatus having a housing having an access door at one side of the housing and a fuel tank with a control valve within the housing, a burner assembly within the housing connected to the fuel tank and including an igniter, an least partially transparent vertical tube above the burner, a protective grill surrounding the tube, wherein the tube extends at least as far as the top of the protective grill, and an upper cover assembly mounted to the top of the protective grill; the method comprising: opening the control valve to begin flow of fuel from the fuel tank to the burner assembly; actuating the igniter assembly to light the fuel flowing from the fuel tank to create a flame extending up from the burner assembly into the vertical tube; and adjusting the control valve so that the flame extends up the vertical tube only to a top end of the vertical tube and creates a glow along the entire length of the vertical tube. 